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Provided by: Tinkercast |Published on: August 1, 2025
Podcasts
45
Synopsis
In this "Wow in the World" podcast episode from Tinkercast, students will learn about where fossil fuels come from, how they are burned to make and transport goods, how this contributes to waste problems and climate change, and how solar and wind energy can replace fossil fuels.
The resource also includes student worksheets to note what they noticed, possible experiments, and design challenge ideas.
Students will love the segment at the end of the podcast where students share fun facts about the world.
The use of goofy humor will keep students engaged in this longer podcast episode.
Prerequisites
Though climate change is gone over briefly, it may benefit students to already have an understanding of climate change.
Differentiation & Implementation
Younger students may benefit from printed copies of the activities linked below the podcast episode.
Teachers may want to pause periodically to talk about some of the key points in the podcast. Some good stopping places are at 8:45 to talk about overconsumption and waste management, 13:17 to talk about where fossil fuels come from, 17:22 to discuss how fossil fuels create energy, 18:00 to discuss climate change, and 20:22 to discuss renewable energy.
To demonstrate their understanding, students can make posters or other media to inform others why they should consume less and how they can help the Earth.
Teachers may want to use this podcast around the time of Cyber Monday and other big shopping days to help students make the connection between Mindy's overconsumption and their own shopping habits or shopping habits they may have observed.
This resource emphasizes individual actions. Teachers may want to discuss the systemic issues and explain the importance of collective and civic action.
Scientist Notes
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All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.
